This is the second in Lars Mytting's Norwegian historical Sister Bells trilogy, brilliantly translated by Deborah Dawkin. It's 1903 and over 2 decades since the death of Astrid Henke, the grave tended by the Butangen village Pastor Kai Schwengaard, who tries to look after her son, Jehans, expelled by his family, and residing with his foster parents, Adolph and Ingeborg. Kai is seeking redemption for his betrayal, the new church lacks the presence and atmosphere of the old stave church, now resurrected in Dresden, with its one bell, Halfrid, ringing with its tone of loneliness, missing Gunhild, its conjoined twin sister, the bell in the lake. Having lost his father too, Jehans proves to be a able learner with an interest in engineering but his education is derailed by the interference of his Uncle Osvald who informs him of Kai's betrayal, sowing the seeds of discord that has Jehans rejecting Kai, turning instead to the mountains, living in abject poverty.
He sees himself as a reindeer hunter, one day meeting another reindeer hunter over the body of a large shot reindeer, an Englishman from Northumberland, Victor Harrison, who sees himself as a reindeer hunter too. For reasons he can't explain, Jehans feels a deep connection to Victor, when he saves Victor's life, he turns to a shocked Kai, who sees in Victor a ghost from the past. With his greater understanding of the role of old beliefs and folklore, their importance to the local community, and learning to read the signs, Kai now determinedly seeks the lost Hekne Weave for what he believes is the wisdom it will impart. As the truth emerges, a rift emerges between Jehans, desperate to locate the bell in the lake, and Victor, who cannot come to terms with what he learns. As Jehans meets the dairymaid, Kristine Messelt, he is left to face the most challenging of circumstances, including his cruel Uncle Osvald and the power he holds over his life.
In a extraordinary narrative that covers the turbulent years between 1903 and 1919, including the arrival of electricity, the horrors of the Great War and the Spanish Flu, Butangen begins to change out of all recognition. Mytting drops the reader in early 20th century Norway, and we find ourselves immersed in the life, culture, social norms and attitudes in the remote community of Butangen. This is achieved primarily with Mytting's stellar skills in characterisation, with Jehans, Victor, Kristine and with Kai, a compassionate man who has changed radically from the young naive pastor he used to be. This is an outstanding historical read, so good that I really did not want the novel to end, some of the highlights for me were the incredible community spirit of solidarity in the face of injustice, and the strong willed spirit, resilience and strength of Kristine willing to break barriers and conventions. Highly recommended with sister bells on. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.